3
Ianto stood at the entrance to the woods, the trees all overgrown and woven together to form a cave like entrance. He knew she was in there, inside this weird thing where there was a clearing and tents … like … a commune full of those who had checked out. Every now and then one of the young Dragons would enter and make sure they were OK, provide supplies. Rhiannon had come sometimes.
He never did.
With a deep sigh he started in, the baby asleep in the front pack beneath the warm Great Coat of his father, stirring with interest as the mood seemed to change to the melancholy one of the wanderers.
Some mothers run a tight ship, this one? A pirate ship with the pirates ransacking the place of her own creation. Mostly heading into the Bermuda Triangle … ya see? Not somewhere any Ianto Jones enjoys being. His mother was …flighty. Vague and fanciful.
With a deep breath he stepped forward into the trees feeling them brush against him. He knew his power was being tasted and they reacted instantly to the old blood that had not visited this wood for so many years, leaves brightening, rustling starting as the place seemed to erupt with excitement. He knew flowers were sprouting where he stepped. It was strange, his 'other' self seeing water seeping from each step instead and he knew it was a memory of something that 'other' has seen as some stage.
He stopped at an intersection and knew one way led to his mother's camp, the other to the river. After a moment he stepped to the left, heading to the river instead of to his mother as he felt something pulling him and as he neared the river he heard laughter.
His mother was here.
He stood watching as they frolicked in the water, splashing and yelling as they played like children, not middle aged and elderly women who had turned away from a life of service to a mate. Ianto felt a shift of anger as a voice whispered 'and their children' but then his son shifted in his sleep and he adjusted the arms around him, reminding him that there was a purpose to this.
"Leonara" He called softly, his mother turning in the sunlight with water running in fat droplets from her still blonde hair to race down her bare back. She was still lithe, pretty in that timeless way and she had aged gently. Almost not at all, her Dragon Blood strong. She stared at the man standing on the bank, his head held high and the large Great Coat wrapped around him like a shield.
"Ianto?"
"Yes"
She clambered up the embankment like she was still a child, pulling a towel around her even though Ianto clearly was not shocked at her nakedness, stepping towards him only to hesitate as she looked down, the wild flowers around him bright against the green grass.
"Lenny, who's this?" another woman appeared beside her, an arm effortlessly thrown around her in a possessive way that told Ianto he was not welcome. His inner self hissed and in the coat Blaze echoed it, feeling his Dam's annoyance.
His mother reacted instantly, pushing the other woman away to step between them, turning to face the woman with a stance of a warrior.
"Phillipa, come away. He has a Hatchling in there!" another called with alarm, running to pull the woman's arm "My gods. He has a child"
"My child is not a Hatchling!" Ianto snapped with anger "I birthed him!"
Silence.
The trees shivered and birdsong erupted as he sighed and turned to shout "Stop it! I will speak with you before I leave. This is a moment with my bloody mother!"
Laughter echoed in the trees.
"Bloody sprites" Ianto muttered turning back to let his coat fall open, revealing his child who stared out at his grandmother with interest.
"Oh my … look at those eyes" Phillipa whispered with awe.
"My mate is Boeshanninan, from another planet" Ianto said calmly, "My son has both Dragon and Human in him. An enigma, such as I am. I came only so there might be a quickening between them, so my mother might have a renewal from her grandchild. I did not come to interrupt your place or your life… but if you do not step away from me and my child I shall smite you."
"Big words little one" she laughed as his mother looked at him again, this time seeing the markings around his neck that disappeared beneath the child. She knew what would be on her son's chest, her blood rumbling as she saw the old blood.
"My son" she whispered "What has happened?"
"The Great One has passed the crown" Ianto replied as he unclipped the front pack to hand his child over "She has declared a new King of Dragons."
"Bullshit!" Phillipa sputtered then Ianto had the child at arm's length, his chest exposed and the soft glow of mantle visible through the white shirt with the power on display.
"I am named the Crowned King, want me to show you?" Ianto demanded "I shall transform if you wish but be warned … in this wood, such a display might anger the little ones."
Ianto's mother gaped as Phillipa shakily took a knee.
His glowing eyes told the story without need to a show.
